Costello Prevails for Prairie Grove in Stormwater Ordinance Trial

Kevin G. Costello, a partner at Zukowski, Rogers, Flood & McArdle, recently obtained a judgment for the village of Prairie Grove, Illinois, after a two-day bench trial against a landowner. The landowner’s excavation on his property violated the village’s Stormwater Management Ordinance.

McHenry County Circuit Court Judge Thomas A. Meyer ruled that Prairie Grove had proven that the landowner’s excavation violated the Stormwater Management Ordinance and that his attempts at self-remediation did not bring the property into compliance with the ordinance. The court, therefore, ordered the landowner to bring the property into compliance. Judge Meyer also ordered fines in favor of the village and against the landowner for the full amount of the village’s legal and engineering expenses related to enforcement of the ordinance.

Costello has tried more than 250 cases to judgment, including more than 50 trial verdicts. The Cook County Jury Verdict Reporter recognized him in 1995 for being among the top 10 attorneys for achieving jury verdicts in Cook County the previous year. In addition to Cook and McHenry counties, Costello has litigated local government, personal injury and civil matters in Lake, Kane and Will counties. Since 2002, he has practiced law in Crystal Lake at Zukowski, Rogers, Flood & McArdle, the largest law firm in McHenry County.